Dozens of civic, business and hospitality leaders gathered Friday to mark the start of construction of the biggest single civic project in Oklahoma City history — a $288 million convention center just south of the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The sprawling convention center, to be linked to the 17-story Omni Hotel, and an 865-space garage, will be east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Avenue between SW 4 and SW 7.

Once open, the convention center will replace the 50-year-old Cox Center and is expected to boost the city's visitor industry.

“Two years from now, we move up to a new tier, which was our objective, to move to a new competitive set,” said Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “We've turned something we really didn't have, a hospitality industry, into the fastest growing sector of our economy. It is hiring more people at a higher rate than any other part of Oklahoma City's economy.”